Big Sky Eyes Read Online Free PDF Page A

her back legs then her front. Ty went flying, landing
stiffly on all fours. Brent was doubled over with laughter.
    “Well, I won’t be riding that girl,” Ty said with amusement
as he wiped muddy hands on his jeans. “She’s made it clear she wants nothing to
do with me!”
    “Yeah, she definitely seems like more of a pain than it’s
worth,” Brent agreed.
    “I’ll take her,” Mackenna chimed cheerfully.
    “Yeah right,” Brent mocked.
    “I’m serious,” she said, effectively silencing all laughter.
“I like a horse with spirit.”
    “Spirit is one thing,” Brent countered, “but aggressive
enough to bite is not a good horse. She could be dangerous and not trustworthy
on the trails.”
    “She’ll be fine,” Mackenna brushed, jumping into the corral
and grabbing the bridle from Ty.
    “Mackenna, seriously,” Brent said tightly. “Knock it off.”
    “Shhh,” she said as she walked quietly to the mare, patting
her flank as she approached. She ran her fingers lightly over the mare’s ears,
stroking next down the velvety muzzle. She scratched the area around the
horse’s nostrils as she spoke softly. “You’re okay, aren’t you girl? You’re
going to be just fine.”
    She brought the metal bit up slowly, just as Ty had, and
eased it toward the horse’s mouth. The mare instantly swung her head around to
bash it into Mackenna’s, but Mackenna was too quick and ducked, feeling the
swooshing air overhead. Brent was already scrambling over the wooden rails as
he yelled at her to back away.
    She ignored him and instead used her left hand to grab the
horse’s snout just above the nostrils and pinched, digging her fingertips into
that soft, sensitive spot. The mare’s mouth flew open wide in reflex and Mackenna
shoved the metal bit swiftly into the opening and let go of the horse, who promptly slammed her mouth shut over the metal.
    As she worked the straps up over the horse’s ears, she cooed
softly and rubbed the long jowl affectionately. The horse ground her teeth
together over the metal, lapping at the intrusion with her thick, pink tongue
as the chin strap was belted. Brent stood rooted in the center of the corral,
slack-jawed and silent. Mackenna shot him a humored look.
    “See? I told you she’d be fine.” She locked eyes with the
mare. “Aren’t you, girl?”
    She used the fence to hoist her onto the animal’s back which
was beautifully bowed to fit perfectly with her seat. She wrapped her thighs
tightly around the sides of the mare’s belly and applied pressure with her
knees. A few clicks of her tongue and the mare began to walk steadily where
Mackenna led with the reins. The onlookers seemed impressed but Mackenna knew
better than to think the beast so easily tamed.
    She kept her legs pressed into the animal’s sides in a show
of dominance and readiness for whatever would come next. Sure enough, without
warning the mare crouched her forelegs and shot her
back legs out in a violent buck that nearly unseated Mackenna. She mustered
every cord of muscle her legs owned to cling to the horse while yanking the
reins up tightly, refusing the mare her head. If she couldn’t lower her front,
she couldn’t raise her back.
    The horse switched tactics and began jumping erratically,
raising all four legs off the ground and straining to free her head of
Mackenna’s tight grip. Brent and the other horses scrambled out of the way as
the thrashing pair fought their way around the paddock. Suddenly, she felt the
tension in the reins slacken, giving her just enough time to react as the horse
threw her head back toward Mackenna’s forehead. She leaned back and narrowly
escaped what would have likely broken her nose. The dangerous show of defiance
prompted her to put an end to the animal’s willfulness.
    “That’s enough,” she growled to the mare.
    She slid her hand down the left rein, squeezing the leather
in her palm until it was near the horse’s mouth and she pulled with all of her
strength